Christchurch is the largest city in the south island of New Zealand, and the third largest city in the whole of the country.
New Zealand is a bucket list destination in itself, but there’s also plenty of reasons to visit Christchurch alone.
Some of the top attractions in the city include their many free markets and botanic gardens, or if you’re looking for a trip out of the city, Arthur’s Pass National Park is just a 2 hour drive away.
There’s so many stunning attractions to enjoy on the NZ south island, and a great way to get around is by renting a campervan or RV.
Here are some of our top recommendations for Christchurch campervan rental to really kick start your road trip itinerary planning.
There’s so much choice out there when it comes to finding the perfect vehicle for your New Zealand road trip.
Especially nowadays with all the blogs and endless options, there can be too much choice!
The most time consuming part of road trip planning can often be finding your vehicle. Here’s a couple of sites we’ve used before to help save you some time finding the perfect RV:
GoSee Travel is a great place to start a search for RV rental in New Zealand. You can find some of the best and most trusted firms all in one place.
It’s really easy to use. You just have to enter where and when you want to rent, and see what’s on offer.
It’s easy to filter by price if you’re sticking to a budget. You can also specify certain amenities, so you only find vehicles that have exactly what you’re after.
Here’s a few more reasons we love using GoSee:
To make planning for your New Zealand road trip easier, we’ve added GoSee links, where possible, for all the recommended firms below!
For more info, read our in-depth review of GoSee Travel (Motorhome Republic).
An alternative to renting commercially is to rent privately. That might sound a bit scary initially, but Outdoorsy makes it much easier.
When it comes to unique and custom RV rentals, Outdoorsy are the best in the business!
Since they started in 2015, Outdoorsy have rented out RVs for over 2 million travel days, and these vehicles have clocked up more than 160 million miles!! For context, it’s nearly 25,000 miles around the earth.
One of the best things about Outdoorsy is, it’s more than just a rental firm. It’s the chance to get a really personalised experience, and connect with other like-minded adventurers.
Not only will you have a totally individual rental experience, but you can also connect with like minded adventurers and travellers, who will only be glad to give you top recommendations for your Christchurch road trip!
There’s so many more reasons to consider using an RV marketplace like this:
For more information about this platform, check out our in-depth Outdoorsy review!
The great thing about Spaceships as they rent to anyone over 18 and there are no additional driver fees.
There’s contactless and automated pick up so you can collect your vehicle whenever best suits you - 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Even if the depots are closed you can still pick up or drop off the vehicle.
If you hire the vehicle for 21 days or more, there’s a free airport transfer from Christchurch airport to the Spaceships depot.
The Spaceships fleet is made up of 6 smaller vehicles that can all sleep two, making Spaceships the perfect RV rental firm in Christchurch for couples.
All their vehicles are super compact, based on the Toyota Estima. Bedding, linen and cooking gear are included in all rentals.
All rentals fees are inclusive of unlimited kms and standard insurance. There’s also no additional fees for a one way trip.
Mighty Campers are perfect for those looking for a budget RV rental in Christchurch. Their price match guarantee ensures that their vehicles are the best value for money, and help travellers to stick to their budget, without wasting time shopping around.
Mighty are partnered with the THL road trip app, which provides 24 hour travel advice, offline maps, and vehicle support for the duration of your trip.
Mighty NZ’s fleet consists of 6 vehicles. There are no vehicles on the fleet older than 5 years.
Mighty Campers vehicles come with fantastic amenities, with even one of their 2 berth vehicles coming with a toilet and shower.
Their largest vehicle is the 6 Berth Big Six has space for 3 double beds and a spacious living area.
Other amenities included in rentals include a kitchen, solar panels, bedding, cooking utensils and a fridge.
With over 17 million RVs going unused for the majority of the year, Outdoorsy gets the most out of the vehicles that would otherwise be stuck on a driveway or in a garage.
Outdoorsy gives RV owners a platform to rent their vehicles out to other keen road trippers, and gives travellers the chance to take advantage of a custom rental experience, with travel tips and advice from a local.
This means Outdoorsy has the widest variety of vehicles available, making it a deserving number 1 on our list of RV rentals in Christchurch.
Private rental might sound a bit daunting initially, but Outdoorsy makes it super easy and straightforward to hire through them.
To see what’s available in your area, just do a quick search of location and dates. You can then further filter down by price, and amenities to find the perfect vehicle for you.
During your search, you can save vehicles you think might be appropriate, and then come back to them later so you’ve got a clear comparison.
It’s super easy to get in touch with the host before you make a booking should you have any further questions, or you simply just want to put your mind at ease. Finding the right vehicle is probably the most important part of your road trip planning, so it’s natural to want to find out more details!
Once you’ve found the vehicle that’s right for you, it’s time to book! Rather like Airbnb, you simply request to book, and once it’s confirmed, arrange pick up.
Whilst most vehicles can be collected, some hosts offer a drop off service, so the vehicle can come to you. Usually this is within a certain radius and there will be extra charges. Other hosts might even offer to set the vehicle up at an RV park for you, so all you have to do is turn up.
Whether you pick up the vehicle, or have it delivered to you, you’ll always have a key exchange with the host who will go through all the vehicle basics, and answer any
No matter how you choose to collect your vehicle, there’ll always be a key exchange with the host so you can have a tour of the vehicle, and ask any questions, whether that be about the vehicle, or about recommendations for your trip!
Then all that’s left to do is hit the road, and bring the vehicle back in the same condition you received it!
After a quick search for a vehicle for 2 in Christchurch for 2 weeks, you can rent this Next Breeze Campervan, which comes fully equipped with a fridge, toilet, outdoor shower, stove, sink and dining table.
They have a $0 prep fee for the vehicle which includes, free roadside assistance, free additional driver, free airport transfer and excess of 2500 NZD. For longer rentals (over 30 days) there’s a 9.9% discount per night.
You can get in touch with the Next team before you book, and they either arrange pick-up or vehicle delivery.
Britz have 3 locations across New Zealand, and cater for all types of travellers whether it’s groups, groups, families, and even pets with their pet friendly campervan hire.
Britz have over 35 years experience, high quality vehicles and an easy booking process, so they’re a great choice for RV rental in Christchurch.
With the branch just a stone's throw from the airport it’s in the perfect location to kickstart your NZ road trip. They offer a shuttle service from the airport 4 times a day.
Britz’s NZ fleet is designed with New Zealand in mind. The Britz team knows New Zealand because they live there, so the vehicles have all the features to make your New Zealand road trip perfect.
There’s smaller 2-3 berth campers which are perfect for couples, up to 6-berth vehicles ideal for a family trip.
Travellers Autobarn are the perfect choice for converted campervan rental in Christchurch.
Unlimited kms, no young driver fees and 24/7 roadside assistance, are just a few reasons to choose Travellers Autobarn.
Their TAB App includes discounted activities and campsites, as well as information on all your nearest amenities.
The campervans on offer come with a whole host of luxury amenities.
There’s 5 vehicles on the Travellers Autobarn fleet.
Their smallest vehicle is the station wagon which is perfect for budget backpackers. It’s super compact and economical, with the choice of camping or sleeping in the back of the vehicle.
Their largest vehicle is the Hi-5 which can sleep up to five. The other vehicles, the Hi-top and the Kuga can sleep 2-3. The main difference is the Kuga is slightly bigger and has extra storage space.
Tui Campers only operate in New Zealand and are owned and run by Kiwis, so you’re guaranteed an authentic NZ experience! They’re 100% family owners and have been renting vehicles for 40 years!
They feature as one of our top picks for best camper rentals in Auckland as well, so they have a large presence across the country.
Some of the great benefits included in their rates are free airport pick up and drop off, unlimited kms, free additional drivers, and 24 hour AA roadside assistance.
Both of their Christchurch and Auckland depots are based close to the airports, with a free shuttle available to travellers.
Their competitive rates and variety of vehicles ensures there is something for everyone!
There’s a wide variety of the vehicles on the Tui fleet. The fleet is mainly made up of campervans, but there is also a 4WD and a 6-berth Trail Explorer motorhome which is perfect for families.
One of their smaller vehicles, the hi-top Trail Finder has space for a double and a single bed. There’s room to stand, and lots of hidden storage space. This vehicle is also certified self contained.
Tui’s wide list of camper accessories can be a great addition to campervan rental.
Apollo have been on the RV rental market since 1985, starting off as a small family business they now have branches across Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and Europe. All of their locations are easy to access from the airport.
Apollo are dedicated to providing world class customer service and great rates, so their campers are accessible for everyone to enjoy exploring New Zealand.
There’s a shuttle service to and from the airport on the hour, every hour during branch opening times.
Apollo’s fleet is complete with quality cars, motorhomes and campervans that sleep 2 to 6.
Their largest vehicle is the Euro Deluxe motorhome which is spacious, so perfect for groups or for the whole family. It includes a kitchen, toilet and shower.
Their smaller hi-top camper sleeps 2 so is perfect for couples. It’s easy to drive and more economical than other vehicles on the fleet. It comes with a 2 burner gas stove, fridge, microwave, dining table and double bed.
Drivers must be over 21.
Elements Rentals are a New Zealand campervan rental firm “created by backpackers, for backpackers”.
With their price match guarantee, Elements promise New Zealand's lowest rates!
They’re also budget friendly with their all inclusive rates including unlimited kms, no hidden additional fees and no extra driver fees.
Elements have a small fleet of only two vehicles - The Tandem and The Quad. Both are self contained certified.
Both of their vehicles are maintained to a high standard, and have been specifically chosen to suit the New Zealand roads. They’re also super economical, helping to keep the road trip within budget!
Of course the main difference between the two vehicles is capacity - The Tandem sleeps 2 and the Quad sleeps 4.
Both campers come equipped with bedding, utensils, and cooking equipment, and are compact but spacious.
Discover NZ has been operating for the last 20 years and now has 9 pick up and drop off locations throughout the country. They’ve also won numerous motorhome awards over the years.
Discover NZ motorhomes have always been privately owned, so pride themselves in offering a personal service, and fulfilling customers every need. Founders Tony and Anna-Marie aim to be available to all travellers at any stage of their journey.
Discover NZ’s fleet consists of 2, 4 and 6-berth vehicles. The oldest, and largest, vehicle is the 6-berth Imala deluxe shower/toilet which is a 2018 model. It comes fully equipped with a shower, toilet, drop down flat screen TV, and a full kitchen.
Their newest and smallest vehicle is the 2-berth deluxe, a 2022 model. It comes with a gas stove, shower, toilet, and fridge.
All rental rates include unlimited kms, 24 hour assistance, and complimentary airport transfers.
Since 1986 Pacific Horizon have been providing travellers with the best New Zealand motorhome experience.
They have built themselves up to be a trusted brand over the years, with no hidden fees when it comes to renting from Pacific Horizon. These include courtesy transfers on pick up and drop off day, additional drivers, road taxes, bed linen and towers, 24/7 assistance and a full LPG bottle.
Every motorhome on the fleet has a toilet and shower on board, so they’re fully self-contained meaning you can wild camp in designated areas.
The vehicles are designed and built with New Zealand in mind, so they’re perfect for the road and driving conditions.
Their vehicles are smaller with capacity for up to 4 adults, or 2 adults and 2 children.
Prices can vary widely depending on availability throughout New Zealand, when you are travelling and the type of vehicle you’re after.
If you are going to be travelling in peak periods, book in advance as this way you’ve got the best chance of getting a better deal, and ensuring you get the perfect vehicle.
The starting rate for campervan rental in Christchurch is roughly around 140 NZD per day.
It’s important to remember that the rental rate isn’t the only cost involved in renting an RV, and there’s other things you need to take into account when you're budgeting for your Christchurch road trip.
You will need to be at least 18 to rent a vehicle in New Zealand. Often firms can have age restrictions that mean you have to be at least 21 to rent, or there are additional fees for those under 21.
Some of the firms I’ve recommended above either rent to those 18 or over, or have no additional fees for younger drivers.
If your campervan is certified as a self-contained vehicle, with a toilet, wastewater and rubbish facilities, you are able to wild camp in some areas of Christchurch, Akaroa and the Bank Peninsula.
Parking and staying overnight/camping in town centres, council parks and residential areas is not permitted.
When it comes to finding campsites in New Zealand you’ll be spoilt for choice! There’s thousands of budgets, and even free (!!) campsites throughout the country.
Hopefully this list of our top 10 recommendations for RV rental in Christchurch have helped you with planning for your New Zealand road trip.
If you choose one of these firms for your adventure we’d love to hear about it, or if you choose another firm which we missed let us know.
Drop us a comment below and tell us all about your trip to Christchurch.
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